| Lea County Regional Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: HOB – ICAO: KHOB | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Operator | Lea County | ||
| Location | Hobbs, New Mexico | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 3,661 ft / 1,115.9 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 3/21 | 7,398 | 2,255 | Asphalt |
| 8/26 | 3,512 | 1,070 | Asphalt |
| 12/30 | 6,002 | 1,829 | Asphalt |
| 17/35 | 4,998 | 1,523 | Asphalt |
Lea County Regional Airport (IATA: HOB, ICAO: KHOB), also known as Lea County-Hobbs Airport, is a public airport located four miles (6.4 km) west of the central business district (CBD) of Hobbs, a city in Lea County, New Mexico, USA. The airport covers 898 acres (363 ha) and has four runways. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by two commercial airlines.
Contents |
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| United Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | Houston-Intercontinental |
| New Mexico Airlines | Carlsbad |
The current Lea County Regional Airport was originally called the Me-Tex Airport and opened as a commercially operated airport on July 23, 1937.[1] In 1937 the Me-Tex Supply Company leased the land where the airport is located from the State of New Mexico. Oiled runways were installed and a hangar constructed. [2]
In 1940, the City of Hobbs passed a bond issue for funds to purchase the airport and some adjoining acreage, with the intent of bringing regular airline service and airmail delivery to the City. Federal grants helped pay for improvements such as paved runways and taxiways and a terminal building for the renamed Hobbs Municipal Airport. [3]
The first air mail arrived in Hobbs via Continental Airlines in May 1940 [4] which also initiated air passenger service that same year. [5]
Ownership of the airport was transferred from the City of Hobbs to Lea County on November 19, 1945 [6]
Continental Airlines continued service to the airport until 1963, when they were replaced by Trans-Texas Airlines. Supplemental service was provided by Bison Airlines from 1963 to 1964. [7]